RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual 24th April 2022 (Lesson 34) – Christianity And Governance
TOPIC: Christianity And Governance
OPENING PRAYER: Father, please bless Your children with divine courage to be involved in governance at all levels.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Teacher should allow students to review the previous week’s lesson.
MEMORY VERSE: Revelation 5:10
“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
BIBLE PASSAGE: Romans 13:1-6 (King James Version)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: The opinion held by some Christians that if they were going to follow Christ, they must be quiet and withdrawn from things happening on the earth, negates the will of God as spelt out in the Scripture. As a matter of fact, Christ has called believers unto a life of influence, control and dominion (Ps.8:6). They are to take charge (Matt. 5:15-16) and the issue of governance is no exception. As the light of the world, they are to dispel the darkness of unrighteousness, sycophancy, etc. which are the order of the day, in present day governance systems of the world.
TEXT REVIEW: Romans 13:1-6
Teacher should identify five reasons while Christians should be subject to authority according to the passage.
i. ————————————————————
ii. ————————————————————
iii. ————————————————————
iv. ————————————————————
v. ————————————————————
NOTE: Teacher should apply the points so identified to the lesson as appropriate.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- THE VIEW OF GOD ON GOVERNANCE
- WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNANCE
LESSON OUTLINE 1.THE VIEW OF GOD ON GOVERNANCE
i. God instituted governance for administration, justice and general well-being of the citizen. (Ps.72:4, 13; 1Tim. 2:2).
ii. The Almighty God is the Governor of all nations. (Ps.22:28).
iii. God delegates power and authority to people and allow them to rule. (Dan. 4:34).
iv. God gave dominion to man over everything he created. (Gen.1:26).
v. Governance is a manifestation of the gift of the Holy Spirit. (1Cor.12:28; Rom. 12:8).
vi. Through governance, there is orderliness and sanity. (Titus 1:5; 1Cor.14:40; Ex.18:21).
vii. Being an institution established by God, it must be respected. (Mark 12:17; Rom. 13:1-2).
viii. Governance is a call to service. (Matt.20:25-28).
ix. Governance is a ministry while those in government should be regarded as ministers of God. (Rom.13:3-4; 1 Cor.12:28).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Why do some people in government misrule?
LESSON OUTLINE 2. WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNANCE
i. It is part of our inherent designs as believers. (Gen.1:26; Matt.5:15-16).
ii. To effect positive and lasting change. (Gen.41:46-57).
iii. It stands out the nation among other nations. (Prov.14:34).
iv. To make righteous laws and decrees that lead to national progress. (Mk.6:27; Lk. 2:1).
v. It is obeying God’s ordinance of submission to authority. (Heb.13:17; 1Pet.2:13-14; Rom. 13:1-2).
vi. It brings blessings and breakthrough on the nation and fulfilment for her citizenry. (Prov.11:10).
vii. Governance is God’s institution and supported by the word of God. So, people of God should not be kept out of God’s institution. (Rom.13:1-6).
viii. To avoid paying the costly price of bad leadership. (2 Sam.23:3; Prov.22:9).
SUMMARY: God instituted governance for the well-being of the people and expects his people to be involved.
CONCLUSION: Believers should take their rightful place in deciding the destiny of their nations and turn the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of our God which is God’s divine mandate for us.
EVALUATION: Why should Christians be involved in governance?
CLOSING PRAYER: Almighty Father, please help Your children to take bold steps to be involved in governance, in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention any five (5) points that discourage believers from getting involved in governance.
RCCG Sunday School manual is used in Sunday School Classes in the RCCG.
The RCCG Sunday school manual is written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye and is available online for easy access. See the previous RCCG Sunday school Manual for 2022 here
